Contract Extension = Free Phone = Sell it for iPhone?

[glide]

So Rumor has it a contract extension will be required for the iPhone, but anyone with a current contract can buy one no matter how far they are into it.

Would it be possible to extend my current contract (2 lines) and get 2 blackberry pearls at the discounted $29 contract extension price, then just sell them on eBay?

I could then pick up an iPhone, extend the contract again even though I would only be a few days into a new 2 year agreement. I figure that would defray the cost of the phone.

I would think AT&T would have thought of a way to combat this, but who knows....

 

[jshbckr]

Then wouldn't you be getting yourself into a 4 year agreement?

 

[loudestnoise]

Then wouldn't you be getting yourself into a 4 year agreement?

Ha, supposedly getting an iPhone will only extend your contract 2 years from date of purchase. But this is a theoretical.

 

[tho]

Ha, supposedly getting an iPhone will only extend your contract 2 years from date of purchase. But this is a theoretical.

on regular phones, not sure if this applies to the iphone, but when you are nearing end of the contract and opt for an upgrade you will have to extend your contract 2 yrs from the original contract date. if you are out of contract the 2 years start the day you sign up for a new one.

 

[jshbckr]

Oh, I assumed the 2 year extension was on top of your current contract.

 

[hcopp]

i just sold my 6 month old blackjack on ebay for about 280. paid 120 for it.

so there ya go, made 160 bucks on it, and will be getting an iphone, if at&t says otherwise they can shove it up their ass.

 

[glide]

Oh, I assumed the 2 year extension was on top of your current contract.

I've never extended on Cingular, but back when I had verizon it was just a new 2 year contract starting from the date you signed it. They could never lock you in for more than 2 years. Maybe its different now....that's what I want to know.

 

[atszyman]

I've never extended on Cingular, but back when I had verizon it was just a new 2 year contract starting from the date you signed it. They could never lock you in for more than 2 years. Maybe its different now....that's what I want to know.

I doubt you'd be able to get a new phone so early in your 2 year agreement. I don't think you can get the free phones/discounted ones until near the end of the contract. Otherwise what's to prevent me from upgrading my phone every 3 months until I die and just leave about 80+ years of unfulfilled contract.

This being said the iPhone might prove to be a different beast due to the lack of subsidies from at&t. It might work, however it could backfire and you'd be stuck with a 4 year contract and no phones...

 

[The Viking]

I'm switching to AT&T for the iPhone and received conflicting reports about this. I wanted to get a couple of free or low-cost phones and sell them when we got out iPhones.

HOWEVER, there is apparently a 30-day period wherein if you switch phones, you must return the old phone in exchange. I don't know what happens in terms of rebates or how much of your purchase price is refunded. After 30 days, I suppose you're free & clear; just re-up for 2 years (it extends to 2 years from that date, not a total of 4!).

I don't want to hassle with that or wait for 30 days, so I'll just port our numbers at the Apple store when we sign up.

The frugal shopper will spend a few iPhone-less weeks to lay ahold of some extra cash, though. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is my conclusion after several weeks of obsessive-compulsive study on the subject.